Labour has today confirmed they haven’t learned anything from when crime spiralled out of control under their watch, National’s Police Spokesperson Mark Mitchell says.
“After Carmel Sepuloni labelled move-on orders ‘cruel’ and ‘despicable’, Labour’s Police Spokesperson Ginny Andersen today rolled out the same old handwringing about how Police wouldn’t have capacity to issue the orders,” Mr Mitchell says.
“Under Chris Hipkins’ and Ginny Andersen’s watch, Police were saddled with a 30 per cent increase in violent crime, a 75 per cent increase in gang membership, and a 500 per cent increase in ram raids.
“Labour made it clear that the prison population should be cut by 30 per cent and then rejected that that had anything to do with there being more violent offenders on the street.
“Since coming into Government, National has turned New Zealand’s crime stats around by getting tough on crime and putting public safety first. Move-on orders are the latest measure we’ve introduced to help Police to keep our streets safe.
“Even Wellington’s Labour-endorsed Deputy Mayor Ben McNulty has publicly expressed support for move-on orders, saying he’s glad Police are getting these powers. He’s sensible enough to see that it’s needed.
“It’s a shame the same can’t be said for Labour’s MPs and their mates in the Greens and Te Pati Māori, who seem to oppose move-on orders along with nearly every other major law and order measure National has introduced.
“They sided with gang members instead of backing our successful patch ban and new dispersal powers, saying exactly the same thing as they are now about how Police wouldn't be able to do it.
“They opposed scrapping the prison reduction target they imposed - a target that put ideology ahead of public safety.
“And now they’ve confirmed they don’t support giving Police stronger tools to deal with disorderly behaviour that is harming our cities and intimidating people.
“It stands to reason that Labour’s only solution is to go back to their halcyon era, alongside the Greens and Te Pati Māori, of dumping violent offenders out of prison and giving gang members cuddles instead of consequences.
“National rejects that soft-on-crime approach. Public safety must always come before criminals, and we back our Police to do their job.
“National is fixing the basics in law and order, and building the future so that all New Zealanders can feel safe in their homes, businesses and communities.”